The AudeShantyMen are now on shore leave

Crew disband to enjoy the Festive Season

The members of the AudeShantyMen will be sailing single-handedly for the next few weeks as the year draws to a close. Time to be with loved ones on dry land after the many voyages of the last twelve months. They will be back, never fear, in the New Year.

In the meantime, every member of the Crew would like to wish our followers and fans a Happy Christmas and the best of Good Fortune in 2013.

Fine end of term report for the AudeShantyMen

Full house sees the AudeShantyMen sign off for 2012

€500.00 target for RNLI achieved

At  the Cafe de la Galloise last weekend the singing year came to a rousing end for the members of the Crew. There was not a spare dining seat in the house and Lin and Les did a fine job with the themed menu hitting all the right spots. The generosity of those present resulted in a collection of €120,21 on the night, pushing the total raised at the last few concerts beyond the target of  €500,00 which we have earmarked for the RNLI. Very many thanks to all those who have contributed to our chosen two charities this year.

Last chance to hear the AudeShantyMen in 2012

Final concert of the year

on Friday 9th November

at Le Café de la Galloise in Alaigne

from 20H00

Lin and Les (aka Lynette et Hugo) look forward to welcoming you and will be serving a specially themed three course menu at €15.00 per head.

To reserve your table please call them on 04 68 69 35 77

Another full house for the AudeShantyMen!

Most ambitious performance yet

In front of a packed house (those who did not have the foresight to reserve a table found themselves eating outside on the terrasse) the Crew took a little while to hit their straps in Léran on Friday night but  their rustiness soon gave way to a sterling performance. 

Their five themed sets of songs - including  a good deal of new material - was their most testing programme to date and the audience showed their appreciation heartily.

 Thanks to the generosity of those present an encouraging total of €141.49 was raised for the RNLI. This represents a major step forward towards the target of £500.00 for the RNLI which the AudeShantyMen intend to raise before the end of the year.

 A big "thank you" to all at "Le Rendezvous", especially to Marek and Shirley for making us so welcome. 

The AudeShantyMen are back on stage!

A date for your diaries ...

The AudeShantyMen will be entertaining fans old and new when they sing at "Le Rendezvous" in Léran, near Mirepoix, from 20H00 on Friday 28th September 2012.

Reservations are advised. To book a table call Marek or Shirley on 09 51 42 47 91

It's All for the Lifeboats !!

The AudeShantyMen at Station SNSM Gruissan

The AudeShantyMen were honoured to be invited by the President and members of the Gruissan Lifeboat Station to perform at their Open Day last Monday, 13th August.

 Alongside the AudeShantyMen were their friends from Ar-Vag who contributed hugely to the evening by singing their Breton Shanties as well as by selling crepes and cider to the appreciative passers-by, including many holidaymakers from different regions of France and other countries overseas.

With Gangplank and Albatross still in foreign climes it fell to Greybeard, Columbus, Magellan, Pirate and Powder Monkey to keep the "red duster" flying high.

The quayside setting, the fading Mediterranean light and the warmth of the crowd's reaction all combined to stimulate the AudeShantyMen to give a rousing performance.

Vive l'entente cordiale!

The AudeShantyMen back on deck!

Hear them in Gruissan on Monday 13th August from 19H00

The Crew to join ArVag at the Lifeboat Station

The doors of the Lifeboat Station SNSM de Gruissan will be thrown open to the public from 5-7pm on Monday next, the 13th August. Entertainment for locals and visitors alike will be provided by the shanty choir of Gruissan, Ar Vag, under its dynamic leader Pierre Cloarec, and by the AudeShantyMen who are looking forward immensely to meeting up again with the many friends they made on their previous visit in June. A grand evening in prospect!

AudeShantyMen take some shore leave !

The Crew have decided to take a month's break. Greybeard is celebrating a big birthday - and it will probably take him (and us) at least three weeks to get over it! Bully in the Alley all round!

AudeShantyMen back in home port !

Chez Bart, Villelongue d'Aude, 6th July 2012.

Home from the Sea 

After a lengthy spell on the ocean waves it felt good to all the AudeShantyMen to have their feet on firm ground once again last Friday evening. And how their faithful fans and friends came out in force to welcome them back! The Crew ran through a lively programme on this surprisingly cool evening in the Razès, ensuring a warm and convivial atmosphere amongst all those packed to bursting point on the newly created terrasse nestling at the foot of this ancient village's fortified mediaeval church. 

The Crew would like to express their gratitude to all those who gave so very generously. A fantastic sum of €220.21 was raised and every centime will be dedicated to the RNLI.

If any one has photos of this special evening please don't hesitate to send them through for posting on the Blog and on Facebook.

Magellan

Fete de la Musique - 21st June 2012

Stop Press !!

The AudeShantyMen will be making surprise appearances at Cailhavel, Belvèze du Razès and Gramazie during the course of the evening.

AudeShantyMen fall under the spell of El Cau !!

Magical setting enchants Crew on first international gig

Inspired performance captivates Spanish and British alike

The  tiny, traffic-free hamlet of Esclanyà - its narrow streets almost lost in the mysteries of time - played host to the AudeShantyMen on Saturday night. The honey-coloured houses surrounding the church square echoed to the strains of the Crew who sang their hearts out at this, their first, concert beyond the border. 

Hosted by the inimitable Tere Axon, and her personable husband Tony - the formidable team who formerly owned the renowned "Star" in Lidgate, twice voted UK Pub of the Year - the 80 strong sellout audience wined and dined on the exquisite Catalan cuisine which is Tere's hallmark.

  

As the last rays of the setting sun gave way to the soft  blue velvet of the Costa Brava night, the AudeShantymen dipped into their extensive repertoire of rousing shanties, humorous ditties and appealing songs of love in bygone times. Somehow everything seemed perfectly suited to these fabulous surroundings and, despite the barrier of language, the Spanish members of the audience became more and more animated and involved as the evening progressed. 

Sharing the entertainment duties with the AudeShantyMen were the talented singers Els Mariners de Riera, a well known group in Catalunya who have been charming audiences since their formation in 1982. With their tender songs of love and life - the "habaneras" of Cuban origin -  delivered in perfect harmony to the haunting accompaniment of a sole acoustic guitar, Els Mriners provided the ideal counterbalance to the Crew and ensured that their British audience received a perfect introduction to this important musical genre. We hope that this will not be the last time that the AudeShantyMen have the pleasure of sharing an enthralling, melodic evening with our Spanish friends.

HASTA PRONTO !!

AudeShantyMen go international !!!

Crew to sing on Costa Brava in Spain

Saturday 16th June at Restaurant El Cau in Esclanyá for one night only - a unique evening of songs of the sea from two great ocean-going nations featuring Els Mariners de la Riera and the AudeShantyMen.

For possibly the first time, two outstanding nautical traditions will be presented side by side. Catalunya's "Habaneras" and the "Sea Shanties" of the United Kingdom have a good deal in common. They tell of work aboard, voyages to distant lands, life in foreign climes and loves lost and found ...

In Britain the sea shanty is part of the national fabric. The same is true in Catalunya of the Habaneras (the name, but not the music, comes from La Havana, Cuba's great port). Indeed, the Habaneras Festival held every summer in the nearby seaside town of Calella attracts thousands of visitors and is broadcast live on national television.

"The El Cau restaurant in Esclanyá is delighted to welcome these representatives of two great choral trtaditions. This is more than just an evening of singing songs. Not until that evening will each choral group become aware of the richness and depth of the other tradition. To join in the fun, book a table and tell your friends. You'll all enjoy it! "

Three course menu at €20.00 or à la carte. To reserve your table for this exceptional evening phone Tere on +972 30 51 56 or 661 357 475 

AUDESHANTYMEN add to ENTENTE CORDIALE at GRUISSAN !

Sea Shanty Festival a Massive Success !

The AudeShantyMen delighted audiences throughout a day-long event at the port of Gruissan last Saturday. They sang in the company of the 40 strong choir AR-VAG, who were hosting on their own patch, and a 30 strong group of shanty singers from Prades. In warm sunshine the three groups mingled freely, singing from their own repertoire to each other and the growing crowd of holiday makers. After a musical apéro the singers enjoyed lunch at La Rose des Sables before re-assembling to sing out the afternoon onstage.  Highlights aplenty but surely the outstanding memory will be of the many new enthusiastic friends the AudeShantyMen have made on this, their first and long-awaited, visit to the Mediterranean coast.

AudeShantyMen make Donation of €500.00 to SNSM Gruissan

Barry (Greybeard) Barcock presents the cheque to SNSM's Louis Labattut

At the start of proceedings it was with enormous pleasure and pride that the AudeShantyMen handed over  a sizeable donation to the local lifeboat station to help their vital work. We should like to thank all those who have so generously contributed at our gigs - particularly in Ginestas, Alaigne and Léran -  for making this possible. In the months ahead our fund raising efforts will be directed towards the RNLI.

Snippets of recent  AudeShantyMen news

We recently bade a temporary farewell to Graham (Gangplank) Dale who is currently enjoying a holiday in South America before flying off to work a short-term contract in the Republic of Georgia. We shall miss his irreverent witticisms - on and off stage - and look forward to his safe return towards the end of the year. "Bon voyage", Gangplank!

Happily to report, Ron (Albatross) Young is back from his travels around the world and is roosting for a spell in Alaigne. His harmonies have helped us maintain our musical level. Our ranks have also been swelled by the arrival of a new shantyman, Phil (Columbus) Glasson, whose voice we have admired for some time. We are delighted that he has come aboard. It was grand that he was able to make his début at Gruissan and we wish him many more pleasant voyages as a member of the Crew!

 

A Dream Come True!

The AudeShantyMen invited to sing on the Med!!

Sea Shanty Festival at Gruissan on Saturday 2nd June

The Crew will be ashore at this pretty Mediterranean port for more or less the whole day thanks to an invitation from AR-VAG, the host shanty group of this gathering of musicians. After a musical lunch in one of the many restaurants around the marina they will be performing in a free open-air concert in the afternoon along with other singers and  Breton folk dancers. 

Watch this space for further details. Why not have a day out on the coast and come to hear us entertain you? For the AudeShantyMen it is the fulfilment of a long cherished objective. And it promises to be a memorable day!

Be there!

All aboard at le Calice des Muses!

Rose and José hosted the AudeShantyMen at their impressive Bar à Vins Culturel in Alzonne last Friday evening. In the intimate setting of what could easily pass for a "speakeasy" the Crew captivated their audience of new listeners, including all the native French speakers who were present. Rising energetically and jovially to the occasion, the AudeShantyMen caught the atmosphere of this remarkable venue and were called upon to sing several encores before being allowed to leave the stage. The thunder and lightning outside the Bar that night were as nothing compared to the fireworks inside!

FUN EVENING IN LIMOUX

It is good to report that our efforts last Friday night on Deirdre and John's behalf as they endeavour to get "Les Cars" up and running were fully appreciated. The Crew was in jovial mood and fine voice in front of a new audience which included some fascinated (and bemused!) French folk. It was a welcome opportunity to give an airing to several new shanties, including a couple in the native tongue.

First Landmark Contribution

While he was back in the UK in January, Greybeard contacted the RNLI and handed over a cheque for £50.00 to this vital organisation whose lifesaving work the AudeShantyMen are seeking to support, thanks to the generosity of the audiences they entertain. This will, we hope, be the first of many donations to the RNLI and its sister charity in France, the SNSM.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER IN GINESTAS !

Crew in Fine Voice in the Minervois

Welcomed warmly by Joanne and Christopher at their superb restaurant L'Anais,  the AudeShantyMen rose to the magnificence of their surroundings to captivate the hearts of the sell-out audience of diners enjoying an exquisite supper served by a hard-working staff.

The hearty singing of the audience in their own version of "A Drop of Nelson's Blood" prefaced a most generous contribution on their part to the charities we support. Watch this space for upcoming details of a cheque presentation within the next few weeks as the AudeShantyMen anchor in Gruissan for a meeting of shanty groups.

Ahoy there! Two new ports of call for the AudeShantyMen.

Two fun evenings in prospect !

On Friday 27th April you can hear the Crew at Le Café des Cars in Limoux. Shanties from 20H30. No reservation necessary. Just turn up, buy a few drinks and enjoy! If you are local and have not heard us before this is the ideal opportunity to get hooked!

And on Friday 4th May we shall be the guests of Rose and José at their splendidly appointed Bar à Vins Culturel  Le Calice des Muses in Alzonne. To be sure of a table reserve on 06 18 68 33 93. Entry €10 per head to include a glass of wine. Tapas dishes also available to purchase during the evening. See you there! 

LATEST !

GINESTAS EVENING NOW SOLD OUT!!!

All those who have not yet reserved to hear the AudeShantyMen sing at Restaurant L'Anais on Friday 20th April will be disappointed. The last places were filled last week.

Who we are!

The AudeShantyMen to set sail for the Minervois !

The Crew will be anchoring in a new port when they tie up in Ginestas to sing at L'Anais.

That evening there will be great grub from Jo and Chris, grog to spare - and plenty of shanties to liven proceedings! Reservations on 04 68 40 64 47.

The all important date for your diaries is Friday 20th April 2012.

Make plans now and prepare your charts!!  Bon voyage à tous!

Magellan

Bringing you up to speed !

Since we sang at "Le Rendezvous" at the end of January things have been fairly quiet for the AudeShantyMen. Magellan was the first to succomb to the virulent bug doing the rounds - and subsequently passed it to Greybeard, Pirate Pete, Gangplank and Powder Monkey. He wasn't popular I can tell you! Only Albatross escaped unscathed : as usual he was in balmy foreign climes, lucky so-and-so!
Anyway, the coughing and spluttering are subsiding and our voices are slowly coming back to something like their best. We plan to re-start our rehearsals in a few days' time. It hasn't helped our cause that all but one member of the Crew have spent time in the UK in the past weeks, so we are looking forward to being re-united.
We did manage to fit in an interview with the charming Rupert, who has an input into a radio show broadcast weekly from Carcassonne. He much enjoyed our songs and recorded several. So far we haven't heard ourselves over the airwaves but we are due a studio session with him in the not too distant future.
We are also slowly putting together a demo disc to send out to potential new venues. Talking of which we very much hope to be singing in both the Minervois and the Corbieres in the weeks ahead. Our objective this summer is to sing down on the coast at some of the beautiful ports on the Med. Anyone with contacts, do let us know.
I'll be posting details of our next performance just as soon as details are finalised - so keep a sharp lookout!

2012 off to a great start!

The Crew was in sparkling form last night at Le Rendezvous in Leran. The place was packed - our third sell out in a row - and diners and drinkers alike showed their appreciation in most generous fashion. Our thanks to everyone for making it a night to remember, especially Marek, Shirley and all members of the home team who pulled out all the stops. Sadly we have no photos or clips, so if anyone out there can send some to us we should be most grateful.

Watch this space for news of our next performance!